Encapsulated phenolic compounds from Ferula gummosa leaf: A potential phytobiotic against Campylobacter jejuni infection

Abstract

This research was performed to encapsulate the phenolic-rich fraction (PRF) obtained from Ferula gummosa (F. gummosa) leaves by utilizing the spray-drying technique. Further, the physicochemical properties and antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the PRF were evaluated against Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) infection in mice. The results showed that the PRF encapsulated in modified starch, maltodextrin, and whey protein concentrate as wall material possessed a capsulation efficiency of 83.7% with a particle size of 314.6 nm. The phytochemical analysis of developed phytobiotic confirmed the presence of phenolic compounds, including gallic acid, vanillic acid, pyrogallol, cinnamic acid, ellagic acid, naringin, and chrysin. The developed phytobiotic could potentially improve the growth parameters, liver enzymes, and lipid peroxidation, enhance the ileum's morphometric parameters, and inhibit the ileal population of C. jejuni in the mice challenged by C. jejuni infection. Consequently, the phytobiotic developed based on F. gummosa leaf phenolic compounds could be considered a promising natural alternative to antibiotics. Practical applications There is an increasing interest in the use of medicinal plants as natural alternatives to synthetic drugs to combat antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. Microencapsulated products are extensively utilized in a wide spectrum of life science technologies, that is, healthcare, biosensors and biomedicine, cosmetics, veterinary medicine, and agricultural and pharmaceutical industries. Microencapsulation is simple, low cost, and one of the approaches to protect and improve the stability of natural bioactive components, including phenolic components. Encapsulation by the spray-drying technique is a feasible approach to secure plant bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds and to increase chemical/biological stability thereof. The microencapsulated phenolics from Ferula gummosa leaves investigated in the present study could be a promising and sustainable phytobiotic approach to combat campylobacter jejuni infections without any side effects.